Phosphatidylserine synthase plays an essential role in glia and affects development, as well as the maintenance of neuronal function

• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102899
• Publication Date: 2021-07-24T10:45:24Z
• Authors: Ye-Jin Park; Sungkyung Kim; Hyeon-Pyo Shim; Jae H. Park; Gyunghee Lee; Tae-Yeop Kim; Min-Cue Jo; Ah-Young Kwon; Mihwa Lee; Seongjae Lee; Jiwon Yeo; Hyung-Lok Chung; Hugo J. Bellen; Seung-Hae Kwon; Sang-Hak Jeon
• Keywords: Brain Function

Phosphatidylserine (PS) is an integral component of eukaryotic cell membranes and organelles. The Drosophila genome contains a single PS synthase (PSS)-encoding gene (Pss) homologous to mammalian PSSs. Flies with Pss loss-of-function alleles show reduced life span, increased bang sensitivity, locomotor defects, vacuolated brain, which are the signs associated neurodegeneration. We observed defective mitochondria in mutant adult as well elevated production reactive oxygen species, increase autophagy apoptotic death. Intriguingly, glial-specific knockdown or overexpression alters synaptogenesis axonal growth larval stage, causes developmental arrest pupal stages, neurodegeneration adults. This not pan-neuronal up- down-regulation. These findings suggest that precisely regulated expression glia essential for development maintenance brain function. propose mechanism underlies these neurodegenerative phenotypes triggered by metabolism.